8/14/2014 Campaign Update We have formally asked for our Amendment to be considered at the Volusia County Council Meeting next Thursday. Just as we asked the Council to partner with us weeks ago to make sure we do the petitioning right and avoid a court fight after the fact we want to again extend the olive branch. As outlined on the about us part of this page we can legally put this on the ballot by petition if necessary, but it should not be necessary now that so many thousands have weighed in. The County Council can take the noble approach of willingly putting our Amendment on the ballot by County Council action and completely nullify any legal argument against it. Doing so would be an undeniable example of Government for the people and we believe there is the leadership on the Council to see this through, even among those who are against it. Our email to them follows below. _______________________________________________ The Honorable Jason Davis, Chairman, Volusia County Council The Honorable Joyce Cusack, Member District at Large– Volusia County Council The Honorable Pat Patterson, Member District 1 – Volusia County Council The Honorable Josh Wagner, Member District 2 – Volusia County Council The Honorable Deb Denys, Member District 3 – Volusia County Council The Honorable Doug Daniels, Member District 4 – Volusia County Council The Honorable Pat Northey, Member District 5 – Volusia County Council Mister Chairman and County Council Members, Weeks have passed since the Desert Inn and the Hard Rock projects came to a rest with issues centering on the removal of beach driving. Their requests to the County Council demonstrate a growing trend for the private sector to use beach access as a bargaining chip in the name of economic development. As with all negotiations in business, everything is always on the table and it stands to reason that powerful interests will make such requests again after the November elections. In light of this, the public at large, who for years has opposed any further restrictions aimed at driving on the beach, has concluded that this threat to our local culture and our beach access cannot continue. We recognize that times are changing, that beach-side growth and development are both inevitable and necessary. Some believe the history of giveaways to a few has run off others, leaving behind a state of decline while other coastal communities have prospered. Others believe concessions must be provided for these developers to see our area as attractive for their business proposals. Either way concessions have already been generously provided at the City level. Our beach-side area is already attractive and by partnering with the right organizations, those that can integrate with our community and culture, we can have alluring hotels and entertainment centers. Such partnering will complement Volusia County Beach Communities while leaving intact the resident access to the whole beach that beach driving provides. For those that choose to come as good neighbors generous incentives are already in place. Cash money, tax abatement, and CRAs as well as variances to height limits, setbacks, density, and other community standards have become the norm. The next level, the final level, is our heritage and our way of life. Respectfully, beach driving can never be one of those concessions. Developers will always make requests and under the current structure of our County Charter, those requests are a very real threat to the quality of life of the residents. In our representative republic form of government the power for the elected representative to exercise authority is provided by the people. Since we cannot foresee every possibility, we look to the good judgment of the governing authority. However some issues rise beyond the level of elected representatives, such as bonds, because they create a burden on the people that is equivalent to a working life time. In similar instances where exercising government authority can becomes life altering to a community, when it can change our way of life, in those rare but significant instances the responsible action is to also allow the voters to decide - just as we do for bonds. The community clearly believes further reduction of beach driving is one of these life altering changes, even more so than a bond that could one day be paid back because removing more beach driving area is forever. Over the past four weeks, more than 5,000 people have made themselves known on this issue through social media networking sites and they plainly oppose any further reduction in beach driving. There is a consensus that as long as beach driving can be used as a bargaining chip with developers more requests will be forthcoming. We firmly believe that change is necessary to ensure that the loss of more beach driving cannot happen without it being ratified by the voters. Therefore, as you know, we have officially formed the Political Committee “Let Volusia Vote” and have already submitted to all of you the simplest version of our proposed Amendment. With our diverse Board of Advisers we have instituted a course of action to present that Amendment to referendum for the 2016 ballot, by petition if necessary. As we know, there are two prescribed paths in which an initiative can be placed on the ballot in Volusia County. The first is by collecting signatures in support of an initiative requesting such action which places the issue on the ballot. The second path is that of willing Commission action which is the more responsible path to try first. The residents clearly want and deserve this change. This opportunity to work with the people is by far the most genuine display of government of the people. On behalf of “Let Volusia Vote” and thousands of residents I am asking the Council to place our Amendment on the next County Council Agenda, 8/21/14, and then a vote authorizing ballot placement. Doing so would allow us an opportunity to discuss our issue with you in the proper forum and to seek your support in furthering its development. Please let me know your decision so that I might forward your response to the 4,100+ members of FREE Daytona Beach and the 900+ Subscribers to Let Volusia Vote who are eager to hear your thoughts on this matter. Sincerely, Greg Gimbert - Chairman, Let Volusia Vote https://facebook/letvolusiavote PO Box 265501 Daytona Beach, FL 32126 Ph (386) 852-0751
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:54:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015